Method of mining native copper



July 16, 1946. P. w. ARVIDSON METHOD OF MINING-NATIVE COPPER Filed April16, 1943 pau/ W Afv/a'on.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

fizz MM I Patented July 16, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,404,206METHOD OF MINING NATIVE COPPER Paul W. Arvidson, Needles, Calif.Application April 16, 1943, Serial No. 483,302

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in methods ofelectrometallurgically mining copper.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a practicalmethod of electrometallurgicall extracting copper from native copperbeds; the process being a continuous one and carried out under suchcircumstances that liability of 7 failure is reduced to a minimum.

Other Objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthruout the View,

The figure designates a bed of copper showing part of the apparatus inits association therewith for the mining of the copper; some of theapparatus being shown diagrammatically.

In the drawing, the letter A may generally designat a bed of nativecopper in which I provide a depression I0 adapted to receive anelectrolyte I I, preferably of copper sulphate and sulphuric acid.

I prefer to provide a source of current I I, such as a generator orbattery, having its positive pole connected as at I2 with the copper bedwhich serves as the anode, and the negative side being wired to acathode I3. I realize that it is not new to remove copper from apositive bed of copper in this general manner. However, in addition tosecuring deposit or plating of the copper upon the cathode, I provide acontinuous process which automatically removes the copper from thecathode and I also protect the cathode. The latter is accomplished byproviding a porous receptacle 20, of some refractory or other suitableporous material, which consists of an insulator.

t is supported as by any approved mean 2| in the depression If so thatthe major portion or all of the receptacle is immersed in theelectrolytic bath. The supporting means 2| may, of course, be ofinsulation material if desired. A cap 23 of insulation is provided uponthe receptacle and the cathode I3 is supported in a tube or conduit 24;the latter being carried by the cap 23 and the cathode supported Withinthis tube in any approved manner (not shown) and connected with thewiring to the negative side of the battery II. A coupling 35 may beprovided for convenience and access to the cathode parts. A closedconduit system 33 extends from the coupling 30 and this systemterminates in a conduit 34 which enters the cap 23 and has an open endin the porous cup 20, as shown in the drawing. In this conduit systemthere is provided a centrifugal pump 35 for insuring continuous travelof the electrolyte thru the conduit 24 and thru the system 33. In thissystem 33 there is also provided a filter arrangement 59 which comprisesa receptacle 5| and a continuous filter member 52 which may be of thetravel type if desired.

In actual operation the source of current II provides a voltage which isgreater than necessary for the ordinary depositing of copper upon thecathode. This excessive voltage causes a fiuffy deposit of copper uponthe cathode. The coating or plating is very loose and as an incident ofcycle travel of the electrolyte thru the conduit system, the copperdeposited upon the cathode will be picked up and carried along with theflow of the electrolyte and deposited upon the filter member 52 fromwhich the copper may b re moved in any approved manner.

Various changes in the arrangement of parts and alteration to the stepsof the process may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention or scope of the claim. 1

I claim:

' In a continuous process for the removal of copper from native copperbeds, the steps of which consist in filling a depression in the nativecopper bed with a suitable electrolyte, providing an electric circuitwith a source of power in which the native copper bed serves as theanode with a cathode immersed in the electrolyte, causing the copper todeposit upon the cathode in rather loose, fluffy masses, continuouslyremoving the deposited copper from the cathode by loosening it therefromby causing the electrolyte to wash continuously over the cathode in aconfined, rapid, uninterrupted stream, flowing in one direction only,and filtering said copper from said stream.

PAUL W. ARVIDSON.

